More girls and women than ever are lacing up their skates and hitting the ice. The rising popularity of women's hockey is driven by inspiration believes hockey coach Hanna Bunton.
“They always say, ‘if you can see it, you can dream it’ and I feel that applies for sure to women's professional sports,” Bunton said.
In the 2023-2024 season a record 108-thousand women and girls were registered in hockey Canada programs, which accounts for nearly 20 per cent of all participants, the highest in Canadian hockey history.
This milestone coincides with the launch of the professional women’s hockey league in 2024, marking a turning point, says Daniele Sauvageau, general manager of Montreal’s PWHL team, the Montreal Victoire.
“This is when we realize that this is now part of the sporting industry,” she said.
While teenage girls have historically drifted away from sports, hockey expert Daniella Ponticelli said she hopes that trend is changing.
“How great is it if we can keep more young girls and women invested in sport because there's a future - and that part is key,” Ponticelli said.
Ponticelli added that the growth of women's hockey isn’t just about playing the sport; it also opens doors to roles in coaching, team management, and broadcasting.
“These are all now even better opportunities for everyone,” she said.
However, Bunton said there is still work to be done.
“Continuing to have the conversation and making it accessible for people to watch,” she said, adding that it is also time to expand the scope of coverage.
Ponticelli said university teams also deserve more attention.
“That means not only fans coming out and supporting those levels, but interest from outside organizations, media and all.”
With more support and a growing spotlight, women's hockey is set for an even bigger future in 2025.
